Review - Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Eternal Rider is the first installment in Larissa Ione's new Lords of Deliverance series.  Immortal Rider, the second novel, is already slated for release in December 2011.

Blurb from back cover:

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

It is no secret that I adore Larissa Ione's Demonica series.  I have a particular fondness for a certain demon named Shade ;p.  Needless to say, I was super excited when I heard she was starting a new venture based on the four horsemen of the apocalypse, Lords of Deliverance.  I snagged it right when pre-orders went up and I was definitely not disappointed.

I LOVED this novel!  The characters are fantastic, she beautifully captured the emotional struggle within each horseman/woman and Cara.  We even get to hang out with some of the characters from the Demonica series that readers already have a bond with.  A special moment occurs for Kynan and Gem; I won't give it away but it made me smile!  Ione does a great job making her characters entertaining by displaying a sharp wit and dark sense of humor.

Lords of Deliverance is set within the same world as the Demonica series.  Much of the same rules apply and many of the same species are involved as well.  Fear not, if you have not read her other series, Ione has set up the Lords as a stand alone so no prior background is necessary.  Honestly though, if you enjoy either series, it is well worth your time to immerse yourself in the other.

Action jumped off each page; I raced through this novel and there was no lag to be found.  Cara is an interesting character and I hope to see more of her, while staving off the apocalypse in future installments to the series.  Limos, the horsewoman known as Famine, is featured in Ione's next novel Immortal Rider.  December can't get here fast enough!

Rating: 5/5

~Helena